Michigan Chemical Plant Blaze Forces Evacuations
A fire raged at a chemical plant early today, forcing authorities to evacuate at least 1,000 homes in two suburban Detroit communities.
About a dozen residents were treated at a hospital for minor complaints, such as difficulty breathing, said Tom Worobec, spokesman for Oakwood Healthcare System.
Witnesses described a series of explosions at the Michigan Chemical Recovery plant that shook the ground and shot flames and smoke into the air. The plant is a division of the Environmental Quality Co., which specializes in treating, recycling and disposing of hazardous materials, its website said.
Authorities said no one was inside the plant when the fire started.
About 1,000 homes were evacuated in Wayne because of fumes from the fire, said City Manager John Zech. State troopers attempted to evacuate hundreds of Romulus residents, but it was unclear how many had left.
Romulus Mayor Alan Lambert said one tank exploded at the plant, which set off other blasts.
He said uncertainty about the plant’s chemicals was keeping firefighters at bay.
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